Mikel Arteta has told Nicolas Pepe he won't play for Arsenal again - with club chiefs trying to agree a pay-off with the Ivorian.
Pepe, 28, joined Arsenal from Lille in a £72million deal four years ago, becoming their record signing. He's scored 27 goals in 112 games for the Gunners but has fallen down the pecking order under Arteta and spent last season on loan at French side Nice.
Pepe scored eight goals during his time at Nice but failed to find a new club during the summer transfer window. He's still got another 12 months remaining on his deal and won't be able to complete a move until January - unless that contract is terminated.
A move to the Saudi Pro League before their transfer window closes on Friday seems unlikely, although Turkish teams can sign players until September 15. Arsenal are willing to release Pepe but will need to agree a pay-off, with negotiations ongoing.
As reported by The Sun, Arteta is refusing to play Pepe. The winger won't be reintegrated into the squad, even if club chiefs fail to agree a pay-off. Arsenal have accepted they won't recuperate any of the cash they gave Lille in 2019.
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A potential move to Besiktas remains a possibility, but there's no guarantee that will happen. Pepe is currently training alone and doesn't have a squad number, with his No.19 shirt given to Leandro Trossard when he arrived from Brighton in January.
Pepe's lack of minutes is a huge incentive for him to leave the Emirates by mutual consent. He was left out of the Ivory Coast squad for this month's games against Lesotho and Mali, with the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Ivory Coast at the start of 2023.
Pepe spent last season on loan at Nice (Getty Images)Do you think Mikel Arteta should give Nicolas Pepe another chance? Let us know in the comments below!
"We are still looking for solutions," Arteta told reporters when asked about Pepe's future last week. "There is a lot of communication between his agent and the player and the club at the moment, but there is nothing else to announce at the moment."
Pepe was left out of Arsenal's pre-season tour to the United States due to an injury. It's unclear if he's still nursing the complaint.
Arteta already has Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka at his disposal. Those attacking stars have helped Arsenal pick up 10 points from their first four Premier League games this season.
Pepe, who won the FA Cup during his first season at the Emirates, was signed by the Gunners after scoring 23 goals for Lille during the 2018/19 campaign, winning their Player of the Season campaign. He was also named in Ligue 1's Team of the Year that term.
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